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5. Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) — The new head of the Appropriations Committee is old school when it comes to legislative earmarks. This is the same guy, after all, who from 1998 to 2004 steered $1.4 billion to military projects in his state. That puts him at philosophical loggerheads with Obama, who ran against the culture of pork and influence peddling in Washington. “Inouye isn’t going to bend to accommodate” Obama, said a senior Democratic aide. Moreover, this beloved war hero — who stood up for fellow earmarker and former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) when the latter was convicted on federal fraud counts— is probably reflecting the views of many other Democrats. Said one Senate aide: “That anti-earmark stuff sells nationally, but earmarks are still great politics locally.” Runner-up: Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.).

6. Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) — Obama has carefully courted Boyd, one of the most influential of the pay-as-you-go Blue Dog Democrats — but an unprecedented congressional spending spree and the new administration’s commitment to throwing more aid at flailing banks will create inevitable tensions. Those tensions have been stoked by the new president’s waning commitment to repealing tax cuts for families earning $250,000 or more — a rollback backed by both the Dogs and Pelosi. Some Blue Dogs, many of them newly elected moderates responsible for expanding the Democratic majority in the House, have also shown a willingness to break with party leadership on national security issues — and 15 of them refused to pay Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dues in 2007 over differences with antiwar Democrats. But with $1.2 trillion in government spending at hand and the worst economy in 75 years, budget hawks are not exactly in vogue in the Democratic Party, so Blue Dogs may be diminished. Runners-up: Reps. Heath Sh uler (D-N.C.) and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.).

7. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) As chairman of the Finance Committee, Baucus has often infuriated liberals with his pro-business positions and his penchant for striking deals with Republican Chuck Grassley. If Obama chooses to govern from the middle, he could find a key ally in Baucus. But trying to enact the tax, health and trade policies he touted on the campaign could hit a roadblock if Baucus doesn’t give them his blessing.

8. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) — The head of the Congressional Black Caucus represents several potential fault lines between Obama and Hill Democrats. As a CBC leader with a lock on her Oakland district (and a solid relationship with Pelosi), she’s secure enough to buck the White House if she thinks that Obama is taking African-American support for granted. She is also a founder of the Out of Iraq and Progressive caucuses — and she stood up to Bill Clinton on his use of military force in Iraq and Serbia — so she won’t be shy in criticizing the administration if it tarries on withdrawing from Iraq. Runner-up: Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.).

9. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) — Because none of his fellow Democrats ever know what he will do or say.

10. Michelle Obama — She’s glamorous, she’s on message, she’s the nation’s favorite mom — and now she has nowhere to go but down. The press, which helped savage Michelle Obama for her “proud of my country” remark during the campaign, has since built her into a 21st century Jackie O. With the spotlight shining so brightly on her now, any misstep by the first lady — a slip of the tongue, a too-frank statement, any disagreement with the administration’s positions — could reflect harshly on her husband.

9. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) — Because none of his fellow Democrats ever know what he will do or say.

Yeah and if that isn't scary enough. *LOL*

TeamPolitico: Jan. 21, 2009 - 7:32 PM EST

3. Vice President Joe Biden — Biden survived the campaign, the transition and even Inauguration Day without any Obama-embarrassing verbal gaffes. But on the first full day of the Obama presidency, Biden made a joke — on live TV — about Chief Justice John Roberts’ fumbling of Obama’s swearing-in. Obama, who had tried to smoothe over the oath of office glitch, looked visibly unhappy with his VP, touching his arm in a sign that it was time to shut up and move on. If Biden can’t button it — and encourage his wife to do the same — expect to see Obama’s pinched-face look a little more often.

Wait, why isnt Hillary on this list? No offense, I love Hillary and all, and I still wish she was the one who became President yesterday, but she needs to be watched also... Actually, I would have her as number one on my list...

1. Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) — Conyers, the outspoken chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, hasn’t been shy about pressuring Obama — vowing to proceed with investigations into the Bush administration’s sacking of eight U.S. attorneys and other potential violations of federal law. Obama has said he prefers to “look forward” and not rehash the past — but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she’s open to allowing Conyers to proceed. Remember: In the 110th Congress, Conyers had to be talked down from pushing for the impeachment of President George W. Bush.

This comment is racist and stupid. There is ALOT of support for those investigations. Why are you rethuglicans so scared?? If Bush did nothing wrong then he has nothing to worry about right?

Ever notice that the Democratic Party is full of fossilized old men from a bygone era who have spent their entire lives in government, i.e. Kennedy, Byrd, Dingell, Inouye? Also, the Democrats are the party elitist nepotism. Watch Joe Biden's son take his father's senate seat and Caroline Kennedy crowned Senator in New York. It's interesting and a little disturbing to watch the power remain with the same family decade after decade.

1. Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) — Conyers, the outspoken chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, hasn’t been shy about pressuring Obama — vowing to proceed with investigations into the Bush administration’s sacking of eight U.S. attorneys and other potential violations of federal law. Obama has said he prefers to “look forward” and not rehash the past — but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she’s open to allowing Conyers to proceed. Remember: In the 110th Congress, Conyers had to be talked down from pushing for the impeachment of President George W. Bush.

The problem is that anyone or anything can be made up into some non-story "drama" or "controversy" for Obama, or any Democrat. Someone could write an article saying that Michelle Obama's wardrobe is a "distraction" for Obama, and that she is a frivolous clothes diva when America is in an economic downturn, and the media would treat this as absolute fact, and a huge cause for concern. Just as Joe Biden doing anything but hiding in the background is a cause for concern...and then, when he hides in the background, this also becomes a cause for concern.

1. Obama, Emmanuel, et al, are far too savy to be blind to the many possible hazards in the political areana.

2. I see two big problems on the list. Again, the Obama Administration has re-evaluated since yesterday.

3. Contrary to public miyth and unfounded, conservative rumors, Hillary Clinton is probably the most loyal and most composed member of the Obama Administration.

4. Obama needs to check for leaks from ego-inflated, immature staffers. His staff even needs to avoid confiding in spouses after Obama has confided in them. The Margaret Mitchell syndrome is already operating in the Obama WH.

Good list...I don't agree with Webb being included...Webb's a pretty impressive Senator and he's been a consistently pro-Obama...Webb's unpredictable but his big hot button characteristic is COMPETENCE. This guy basically laughed at Sarah Palin's "grasp of the issues". There's nobody who's demonstrated more competence than Obama. Put a "O" next to Webb.

Obamatron--re "One day has passed and Joe Biden has not made a crtical error that we know about."--I'm glad Biden said what he did. It was strange that the oath was clumsy--seemed like they had rehearsed different lines, or that Obama couldn't hear. Maybe Roberts was just nervous, but it didn't make Obama look good, and I couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't the same old dirty GOP tricks...were they trying to demoralize Obama? (In any case then Obama gave his magnificent speech!) Good for Biden for sticking up for Obama and indicating that Roberts --whether innocently or not--blew it. Today they had a do-over. Smart move--you can't give those nihilists an inch!